ACBS Research Development Grant Scheme - 2011-2012 Awardees

Awards for 2011-2012:

Ian Stewart, Ph.D., NIU Galway, Ireland, Nic Hooper, Ph.D., Middle East Technical University, Northern Cyprus Campus, & Louise McHugh, Ph.D., Swansea University, Wales, U.K.:

The Derived Generalisation of Thought Suppression Functions: Extension of the basic paradigm

Lay Summary
The aim of the current proposal is to empirically model unintentional generalization as a cognitive process involved in the failure of thought suppression. Previous research has suggested that thought suppression is difficult because the to-be-suppressed thought becomes associated with intentional distracters. Using a behavioural paradigm known as derived relational responding, the proposed study aims to model a process in which further elements which are not intentional distracters but which become linked to those initial distracters can further contribute to breakdown of intended suppression and consequent rebound of the to-be-suppressed thoughts over time.

Tanja Hundhammer, Ph.D., University of Cologne, Germany, and Gayannée Kedia, Ph.D., University of Cologne, Germany:

Beyond self-compassion: Does mindfulness reduce stereotyping towards despised social targets?

Lay summary
Functioning social relationships make us happy and healthy. To get along well with others we need an open mind. Conversely, stereotyping limits our socializing capacities and often precludes us from making friends. Social psychology’s attempts to reduce stereotyping have so far come up against an intrinsic limit: They are all group-specific. We think that a more general change in social thinking would be fruitful and propose mindfulness training as a viable way to reach this change.

Mindfulness meditation trains non-elaborative, non-judgmental awareness - i.e., one learns to recognize and let go of upcoming thoughts. If one is mindful in a social encounter with a member of a despised social group, one should just recognize upcoming stereotypic thoughts, and then return to the momentary experience (individualized information about the person). Although mindfulness is likely to reduce stereotyping, it has not been tested in this regard.

We want to test mindfulness’ stereotyping reduction capacities in two experimental lab and two correlational field studies. In the experiments, we will instruct participants to become mindful vs. to mind-wander (cf. Kiken & Shook, 2011). Afterwards, participants will judge a member of a despised social group (e.g., drug addict). We hypothesize that as mindfulness distances the person from automatic stereotypic associations, it reduces stereotyping, even on implicit measures like the Implicit Association Test. In our correlative studies we will compare participants with various levels of meditation experience in a Buddhist meditation center and in a mindfulness-based stress-reduction class.

If mindfulness reduces stereotyping, it won’t only be a self-help tool for patients, but also a method to promote social harmony. Mindfulness could alleviate distorted social perceptions, as in social phobia, depression, and in aggression. This could permit a deeper understanding of the mental mechanisms which contribute to human suffering and rehabilitation, on an individual and societal level.